NMPA’s S.O.N.G.S. Foundation Gives Endowments To Belmont, MTSU

The National Music Publishers’ Association S.O.N.G.S. (Supporting Our Next Generation of Songwriters) Foundation has given two endowments to Nashville area universities. The Foundation has created a $50,000 songwriting-specific endowment at Belmont University, for the Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business Songwriting Program. As part of Belmont’s We Believe comprehensive fundraising campaign which launched in 2016, this donation was matched by the University for an endowment totaling $100,000. Additionally, the Foundation has created the first songwriting endowment for Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU)’s College of Media and Entertainment, with a gift of $25,000.

The NMPA S.O.N.G.S. Foundation Board includes Steven Tyler, Kara DioGuardi, Jewel, Craig Balsam, Golnar Khosrowshahi, Lee Thomas Miller and NMPA’s David Israelite, Danielle Aguirre and Charlotte Sellmyer.

NMPA S.O.N.G.S. Foundation President David Israelite said regarding the donations, “The S.O.N.G.S. Foundation was created specifically to help aspiring songwriters. We are thrilled to start the foundation’s work by supporting those who want to learn about the craft, and need and deserve financial help to do so. We are grateful for Belmont University’s willingness to match our donation, and we are very excited about being able to launch the inaugural MTSU songwriting-specific scholarship program. These donations will enrich the lives of young creators and exponentially enrich our lives through what they go on to create.”

James I. Elliott, chair of Belmont’s songwriting program, said, “We are thrilled to receive this endowment gift from the NMPA S.O.N.G.S. Foundation as it will support the next generation of hit songwriters currently studying at Belmont. In addition, this generous gift is a wonderful way to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Songwriting major offered at the Curb College.”

Beverly Keel, chair of MTSU’s Recording Industry Department in the College of Media and Entertainment, added, “I am thrilled that the NMPA’s S.O.N.G.S Foundation has created a new scholarship for our songwriting students. We are so appreciative of their investment in our students’ futures. Their support means so much to our students, who will be encouraged to work even harder at improving their songwriting craft as they continue to be inspired by the work of the Foundation’s board members. Under the guidance of Professor Odie Blackmon, our songwriting concentration has grown exponentially, so it’s wonderful to have a scholarship to assist our students seeking a career in the songwriting and publishing worlds.”